The 5 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: 2014 DocFest and More

Kick off your weekend with the women from the Ruby Revue Burlesque Show. Pinup queen and burlesque dancer Bettina May, who's often compared to Rita Hayworth, appears as the special guest artist at one of Friday's two shows. It's easy to see why May gets compared to Hayworth - the Titian-haired beauty has a 36-28-38 figure, movie-star good looks and a vintage Hollywood glamour style. But Rita Hayworth never shimmied like Bettina May.

Among her most popular routines are a classic gown peel (her ode to Hayworth), a chair dance (a nod to Marlene Dietrich) and a showgirl showstopper (echoes of Josephine Baker). Originally from Canada, May earned her green card for her skill as a striptease artist. (She was deemed an "alien with extraordinary ability," a category usually reserved for scientists, world-class athletes and such.) Now based in New York City, May is the author of the recently released Everyday Bombshell, a how-to guide for women who want to add a bit of vintage pinup beauty to their lives.

Also appearing as a special guest is Grace Gotham. Billed as a bawdy chanteuse, the Dallas native has been known to take a spin on a pole if there's one handy. Gotham's a gourmet of sorts; she writes Tassel to Table Cuisine, a popular food blog.

The women of the Ruby Revue will take their turn in the spotlight. "We'll be performing our award-winning group act, Taste The Rainbow," troupe member Ginger Valentine tells us. "We won Best Troupe from [the] Burlesque Hall of Fame for that routine, and crowds always go nuts." Shelbelle Shamrock (also known as The Get Lucky Girl) is performing She's Dangerous, a routine that showcases her hip-hop and break-dancing skills. And Renee Holiday draws on her opera training for La Petite Morte, a satire of a classic aria.